No. 9 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)

No. 9 Squadron, named the Griffins, is a Pakistan Air Force fighter squadron assigned to the No. 38 Multi-Role Wing of the PAF Central Air Command. The squadron is stationed at PAF Base Mushaf, Sargodha. It was the PAF's first fighter squadron, has been commanded by seven Chiefs of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force. The squadron crest is a red griffin which symbolises strength, aggressiveness and vigilance. Scrolls around the squadron crest display the battle honours Sargodha 65 and Karachi 71. The Griffins are considered as the PAF's most elite unit as well as its most senior. Recently, squadron has been further graced and decorated by martyrdom of Wing Commander Nauman Akram Shaheed who was Commanding Officer of No. 9 Squadron. His aircraft crashed on 11th March, 2020 during reharsal of Pakistan Day parade.

No. 9 Squadron Griffins
ActiveJanuary 3, 1944 – present
Country Pakistan
Allegiance United Kingdom (1943–1947)
 Pakistan (1947–present)
Branch Pakistan Air Force
RoleMulti-role
Part ofNo. 38 Multi-Role Wing
Central Air Command
Garrison/HQPAF Base Mushaf (Sargodha)
Nickname(s)Griffins
Motto(s)How high you fly depends on how brave you are.[1]
Mascot(s)A standing red griffin.[1]
AircraftF-16 Fighting Falcon
EngagementsArakan Operations
Burma Operations
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1999
Soviet–Afghan War
Chagai-I Air Alert
Decorations5× Sitara-e-Jurat
Battle honoursSargodha 65
Karachi 71
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Air Chief Marshal Jamal Ahmad Khan
Air Chief Marshal Zulikar Ali Khan
Wing-Commander Mervyn Middlecoat
Air Marshal Abdul Rahim Khan
Air Marshal Zafar Chaudhry
Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry
Wing Commander Nauman Akram Shaheed
Aircraft flown
FighterHawker Hurricane IIC (1944– )
Hawker Tempest II (1947–1950)
Hawker Fury (1950–1961)
F-104 Starfighter (1961– )
Dassault Mirage 5 (1973–1984)
F-16 Fighting Falcon (1984–Present)

History
The Griffins flying F-16B fighters during the Red Flag 2010 exercise.

Background

No. 9 Squadron was originally raised on 13 November 1943 at Risalpur. The squadron was formed at Lahore on 3 January 1944, equipped with the Hawker Hurricane IIC, by Squadron Leader A.W. Ridler of the Royal Air Force. During this time the squadron was commanded by then Squadron Leader Asghar Khan and deployed in Burma where it was extensively involved in World War II operations against the Japanese, later being awarded the sword of a Japanese general for its services. The squadron was also converted to the Spitfire VIII in 1945, still with then Squadron Leader M. Asghar Khan in command.

First fighter squadron of Pakistan

In July 1947, then Squadron Leader Asghar Khan was a member of the Air Force Reconstitution Committee and insisted the squadron be transferred to the Royal Pakistan Air Force (RPAF). The squadron was thus established at Peshawar as the RPAF's first fighter squadron, equipped with eight Hawker Tempest fighters and commanded by Squadron Leader M. Ibrahim Khan. The squadron converted to the Hawker Fury in July 1950 and moved to Kohat in November 1956. The unit is believed to have created the first aerobatics team in the sub-continent with the formation of the Red Dragons in 1957. In March 1961 the squadron converted to the F-104 Starfighter.

During the 1965 Indo-Pak War the squadron flew reconnaissance, air defence and fighter escort sorties, during which three Indian Air Force aircraft were shot down. Flight Lieutenant Aftab downed a Dassault Mystere on 6 September which was attacking targets at Rahwali, Flight Lieutenant Amjad H. Khan downed another Mystere on 7 September and Squadron Leader Jamal A. Khan shot down an English Electric Canberra during a night-time interception.

After the 1971 Indo-Pak War started, the squadron was deployed to PAF Base Masroor and flew air defence, reconnaissance, escort and day/night strike missions. Three Indian aircraft, a Folland Gnat and Sukhoi Su-7 of the Indian Air Force and a Breguet Alizé of the Indian Navy, were shot down. Squadron Leader Amjad Khan ejected after being shot down during an attack on an Indian radar. Wing Commander Mervyn Middlecoat and Flight Lieutenant Samad Changezi were killed after being shot down during dogfights with more modern and maneuverable MiG-21 interceptors of the Indian Air Force.

After the F-104 was retired in the early 1970s, the squadron was re-formed in January 1973 at PAF Base Rafiqui, equipped with the newly acquired Dassault Mirage 5 with the role of Tactical Attack. This role was changed on 15 June 1977 to that of an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) and was moved again to PAF Base Masroor on 31 August 1981. Fifteen conversion courses were completed during this time. In June 1984 the unit was again moved to PAF Base Sargodha (now known as PAF Base Mushaf), re-equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon and re-tasked as a Multi-Role squadron. After the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 there were many border violations by Russian and Afghan aircraft, three of which were shot down by No. 9 Squadron pilots. Two Sukhoi Su-22 fighters were downed on 17 May 1986 by Squadron Leader Mohammed Yousaf near Parachinar and an Antonov An-26 was downed by Squadron Leader Sikander Hayat on 30 March 1987. The Thomson-CSF ATLIS II laser designator pod was installed on No. 9 Squadron's F-16s from 1987 onwards to allow them to deliver laser-guided bombs.[1]

On 27 May 1998, No. 9 squadron was deployed at short notice to PAF Base Samungli to provide air defence for Pakistan's nuclear infrastructure.

National
  • 1960
    • 'Flight Safety' Trophy
  • 1991
    • Awards: Top Gun 1991
    • Trophies: 'Best Combat Ready Squadron', 'Combat Flying Training', 'Inter-Squadron Maintenance Efficiency'
  • 1993
    • Trophies: 'Inter-Squadron Maintenance Efficiency'
  • 1996 – five pilots and their aircraft were deployed to PAF Base Masroor on 7 October 1996 to take part in the Inter-Squadron Armament Competition (ISAC 1996).
    • Awards: 'Sher Afghan' for first place in 'Inter-Squadron Armament Competition' (ISAC 1996).
    • Trophies: 'Best Multi-Role Squadron', 'Inter-Squadron Maintenance Efficiency' and 'Best Formation' trophy after leading the Pakistan Day fly-past performance.
  • 1997
    • Awards: Top Gun 1997
    • Trophies: 'War Preparedness', 'Best Combat Ready Squadron'.
  • 2019
    • Sher Afghan Trophy (Top Gun): Wing Commander Nauman Akram Shaheed (OC 9 Squadron)

International
  • Mid Link 74 – A CENTO exercise that took place at PAF Base Masroor in 1974.
  • Anatolian Eagle 06 – In June 2006 a PAF contingent of F-16s from No. 9 Squadron was deployed to Konya Airbase in Turkey to take part in the Anatolian Eagle 2006 exercise.[1]
  • Red Flag 2010-4 – In mid-2010 the PAF sent six F-16B fighters and 100 personnel of No. 9 Squadron to Nellis Air Force Base in the United States, a journey that took six days and four stops, to take part in the Red Flag 2010-4 and Green Flag 2010-9 exercises. During the 12 days of the exercise, 57 air interdiction missions were flown by the PAF fighters and 50 air-to-air refuelling hook-ups were made with USAF tankers,[2] during which 50 303 kg of jet fuel was transferred.[3]
  • Green Flag 2010-9[2]
No. 9 Squadron Griffins
Role Operational Aircraft Notes
1944–1947 Hawker Hurricane IIC
1947–1950 Hawker Tempest II
1950–1961 Hawker Fury FB.60
1961—~1971 F-104A Starfighter
Tactical Attack 1973–1977 Dassault Mirage 5PA
Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) 1977–1984 Dassault Mirage 5PA
Multi-Role 1984—present F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16A/B Block 15		 Second unit to be equipped with the F-16. Credited with 3 kills: two Su-22 on 17 May 1986 by Squadron Leader Mohammed Yousaf and an An-26 on 30 March 1987 by Squadron Leader Sikander Hayat. Equipped with the ATLIS II targeting pod in 1987 for ground attack role.[4] Commanded by Wg. Cmd. Aamir Masood in 2006, who is now flying Sukhoi Su-30MKK with the Chinese Navy (PLAN).[5]
  • A Griffin takes on fuel from a USAF KC-135 tanker.
  • Griffins fly in formation alongside a USAF KC-135 tanker after mid-air refuelling.
  • A group photo of Griffins pilots deployed to Red Flag.
  • An officer performs a post-flight inspection after the Griffins arrive at Red Flag 2010.

References
  1. "9th squadron (PAF)". www.F-16.net. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  2. Parsons, Gary (12 Aug 2010). "Pakistan's Red Flag". Key.Aero Network (www.key.aero). Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  3. Capt. Ashley Norris (August 6, 2010). "Pakistan Air Force trains at Nellis". www.F-16.net. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
  4. "9 sqn "Griffins" (PAF)". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  5. "Viper Driver Flying Hours - Wg.Cmd. Aamir Masood". www.f-16.net. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
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